Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1056266
AUTOMOTIVE 26 BCA A .COM WINTER 2018 Getty Images, iStock Longer hours of darkness With the onset of winter, daylight dwindles, and we're more likely to be driving at night. Before you set out, test all of your vehicle's lights, advises Stu Miller, Senior Operations Manager for BCAA's Auto Service Centres. And, of course, remember to switch on your headlights and tail lights. They allow you to see, but also be seen. "It's also really important, if you've been driving for a while, to wipe ice and dirt off your lights," he adds. Newer LED and HID lights run cooler than incandescent and halogen varieties, and may need more scraping to remove buildup. Speeding is especially dangerous in the dark. Low beams illuminate around 45 to 75 metres ahead, and high beams around 150 metres. If you travel at speeds that increase your stopping distance beyond these lengths, you're "overdriving" your lights and won't see an obstacle in time to stop. In the dark, expect other motorists to be vision-limited and possibly drowsy, and drive even more defensively, says Miller. Use extra caution when picking up and dropping off kids at school in winter months, for instance, and watch for pedestrians, who may not be dressed in bright or reflective clothing. "All of a sudden it gets a bit darker and people aren't really prepared for it. They don't leave themselves extra time to get places when they should," he says. TIP! Pedestrians should use extra caution at night, wearing bright or reflective clothing to make sure drivers can see them.